The blood bank quickly met its immediate needs for blood that day, but spokesman Pat Michaels told the station there would be an urgent need for O negative, O positive, and AB plasma in the coming days.

Complicating the need for blood are U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules that have historically prevented men who've recently had sex with other men from donating blood. While restrictions have been loosened, they remain a factor at OneBlood, which hasn't updated its policies, the Orlando Sentinel reported.Time magazine suggested that concerned people can also help by attending a vigil or providing counseling services.

A hotline for call-in counseling was established to serve the LGBT community in Orlando, Sentinel reporter Paul Brinkmann tweeted.